{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,24]],"date-time":"2026-01-24T11:08:56Z","timestamp":1769252936537,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,3]],"date-time":"2023-11-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1698969600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Intl J Lang &amp; Comm Disor"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2024,5]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title><jats:p>Speech Language Therapy First Point of Contact Clinic (SLT\u2010FPOCC) models can assist assessment of low\u2010risk patient populations referred to ear, nose and throat (ENT) services. To further improve ENT waitlist management and compliance with best\u2010practice care, consideration of other low\u2010risk populations that could be safely managed through this service model is needed. The aims of this paper are to evaluate the clinical and service outcomes of completing vocal cord check (VCC) assessments for patients\u2019 pre and post thyroid\/parathyroid surgery within an SLT\u2010FPOCC model and examine consumer perceptions.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods &amp; Procedures<\/jats:title><jats:p>The service followed existing SLT\u2010FPOCC procedures, with ENT triaging referrals, then SLT completing pre\u2010 and postoperative VCC assessment (interview, perceptual assessment, flexible nasendoscopy), with assessment data later reviewed by ENT to diagnose laryngeal pathology. Clinical and service outcomes were collected prospectively. Patients completed an anonymous post\u2010service satisfaction survey.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Of the first 100 patients referred for preoperative VCCs, SLT assessment identified 42 with dysphonia and 30 reporting dysphagia, while ENT confirmed 9 with significant preoperative anatomical findings. Eighty\u2010three underwent surgery, with 63 (95 nerves at surgical risk) returning for a postoperative VCC. Postoperative VCC identified three temporary neuropraxias (3.2%) and three unilateral vocal fold paresis (3.2%). Patients were highly satisfied with the service. All 163 pre\u2010\/postoperative VCCs were completed with no adverse events.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion &amp; Implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>The current data support SLT\u2010FPOCC service expansion to include pre and post thyroid\/parathyroid surgery VCC checks, with positive consumer perception. The model supports delivery of best practice management (i.e., pre\u2010 and postoperative VCC) for patients receiving surgery for thyroid\/parathyroid dysfunction, and associated efficiencies for ENT services.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS<\/jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>What is already known<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:list list-type=\"bullet\">\n<jats:list-item><jats:p>Assessment of laryngeal function via flexible nasoendoscopy is recommended best practice for patients pre and postthyroid\/parathyroid surgery, as recurrent laryngeal nerve injury is a low incidence (&lt;10%), yet well\u2010recognised risk of these surgeries. Traditionally, general surgeons refer presurgical patients to ear, nose and throat (ENT) for vocal cord check (VCC) assessment. However, with access to specialist outpatient services under increasing pressure, there is growing support for utilisation of other health professionals, such as speech\u2010language therapists working in first point of contact (FPOCC) models, to assist with the administration of pre\u2010 and postsurgical assessments of such low\u2010risk populations.<\/jats:p><\/jats:list-item><\/jats:list><\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>What this study adds<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:list list-type=\"bullet\">\n<jats:list-item><jats:p>This work expands on the emerging body of evidence for speech language therapy (SLT) led FPOCC models within ENT outpatient services, providing clinical and service outcomes to support the safety of a new model designed to administer VCCs for patients pre and post thyroid\/parathyroid surgery. Adopting a similar model to a prior published SLT\u2010led FPOCC model, the trained SLT completes the pre\u2010 and postsurgical VCC including flexible nasoendoscopy and videostroboscopy, with images and clinical information then presented to ENT for diagnosis and management planning. This study also provides the first data on consumer perceptions of this type of service model.<\/jats:p><\/jats:list-item><\/jats:list><\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Clinical implications of this study<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:list list-type=\"bullet\">\n<jats:list-item><jats:p>Data on 100 consecutive presurgical patients revealed positive service findings, supporting the safety of this model. Nature and incidence of clinical findings pre and post surgery were consistent with previously published studies using traditional models of care (i.e., ENT completing the flexible nasendoscopy). Consumer perception was positive. This model enables delivery of pre\u2010and postsurgical assessments for patients receiving thyroid\/parathyroid surgery, consistent with best practice care, and reduces burden on ENT services. In total 163 ENT appointments were avoided with this model, with positive implications for ENT waitlist management.<\/jats:p><\/jats:list-item><\/jats:list><\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1111\/1460-6984.12976","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,3]],"date-time":"2023-11-03T11:17:04Z","timestamp":1699010224000},"page":"963-975","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Outcomes of a first point of contact speech language therapy clinic for patients requiring vocal cord check pre and post thyroid\/parathyroid surgery"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"59","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-8735-9688","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jennifer","family":"Davis","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Speech Pathology Department, Logan Hospital Metro South Hospital and Health Service  Brisbane QLD Australia"},{"name":"Australian Catholic University, School of Allied Health  Brisbane QLD Australia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2680-8978","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elizabeth C.","family":"Ward","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The University of Queensland, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences  Brisbane QLD Australia"},{"name":"Centre of Functioning and Health Research Metro South Hospital and Health Service  Brisbane QLD Australia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Marnie","family":"Seabrook","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Speech Pathology Department, Logan Hospital Metro South Hospital and Health Service  Brisbane QLD Australia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1699-1665","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Justin","family":"Gundara","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Griffith University, School of Medicine and Dentistry  Gold Coast QLD Australia"},{"name":"Department of Surgery, Logan Hospital Metro South Hospital and Health Service  Brisbane QLD Australia"},{"name":"Department of Surgery, Redland Hospital Metro South Hospital and Health Service  Brisbane QLD Australia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-8478-7257","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bernard C. 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